The Holden Roundup

RESIGNATION: Richard Bates has resigned from the planning board after nine years of service. "We thank Rick for his dedication to an important town board that requires its members to possess a high level of technical knowledge, fortitude to carry out the town's objectives, good judgment, fairness and common sense," Town Manager Brian Bullock wrote selectmen.

CONTINUED: The planning board continued until October 10 its public hearing on the definitive Hill Woods Condominium submittal by MTB Corporation for the construction of nine townhouses. Among the topics to be discussed with engineers are drainage issues. Hill Woods is proposed under the town's Affordable Housing Bylaw at the terminus of High Ridge Road.

COMPOSTING DATES: The Department of Public Works has announced its fall composting and brush chipping program: Saturdays, October 21 and 28, November 4, 11 and 18. The composting facility is located at the site of the former landfill on River Road. The program is for Holden residents only.

TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS: Police have scheduled trick-or-treat hours for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 31. Extra bicycle patrols will be on duty that evening.

LIBRARY NEWS: Gale Free Library Director Jane Dutton has announced that the library has a new high in terms of circulation statistics. The total number of items borrowed was 63,903 during the months of July and August. This figure about equals the number of items in the entire library (books, movies, magazines total about 68,000). ... The library will be closed Monday, October 9, for Columbus Day. It will reopen Tuesday, October 10, at 9:30 a.m.

PROGRAM REMINDER: Author Jenna Blum will visit Holden on Thursday, October 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Holden Senior Center. Copies of her book, "Those Who Save Us," are available at the library or at bookstores. The program is free and no registration is required

GRANT RECEIVED: According to Police Chief George Sherrill, Holden received a $3,000 grant for radar and traffic enforcement equipment through the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Public Safety. In other police news, Sherrill has been appointed to the state's Amber Alert Board of Directors.

NEW CONSTABLE: Richard Deneault of 51 Centerwood Drive was appointed by selectmen as a constable. Deneault is a recent criminal justice graduate.

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING UPDATE: Bullock has announced a new executive action for Holden's Public Safety Building Committee.

The former committee disbanded over the summer after the most recent public safety building project was rejected at the ballot box. Bullock said it's hoped a new committee would be fully formed by the end of the month.

The committee will consist of nine members appointed by the town manager: one selectman, one finance committee member and seven members of the public. The police and fire chiefs will serve as ex-officio members and will not vote.

The committee will be charged with developing specific plans, specifications and construction documents in order to build a new public safety facility or facilities and/or make renovations/additions to existing buildings.

The committee will review prior committee work, solicit proposals for design of the facility, narrow the field of architect applicants, and provide a list of finalists to the town manager.

The committee and the architect will also meet with the police and fire departments to determine program needs for a new facility, review and visit other public safety facilities, develop a list of design features to be incorporated into the facility plan and review of all possible site locations and select a site for the building.

The committee will forward its recommendations for the construction of a new facility, including site selection, by October 1, 2007.

FLYING THE FLAG: Forrest Thorpe Jr. of Park Avenue complained to selectmen Monday about treatment of the town's flags. Thorpe said the flags had been at half-mast inappropriately and were, in some cases, not properly lit. During a citizens' address reply period, board Chairman David White Sr. asked Bullock if the town has someone responsible for its flags. Bullock said the town does have personnel responsible for seeing that flag protocol is followed, but that the town sometimes counts on "outside assistance," like the post office, to make judgments about when to lower the flag to half mast. Certain contingencies, Bullock said, were not addressed in the original federal regulations governing flag displays.

ADDRESSING THE ADDRESS: White added a new item to the select board's agenda, one he hopes will become permanent. A period to address items brought forward by residents during citizens' address will be part of the regular select board meeting when necessary. White said he wanted to have brief discussions of the matters brought up by residents so that they will see that their concerns are being considered.

SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE SIGNS: Selectman Joseph Sullivan asked the Department of Growth Management to monitor sign size and violations of the town's sign bylaws after noting several signs that clearly violated dimensions. Political signs endorsing candidates must follow square footage requirements for the district in which they are posted. Sullivan said he had brought the matter to the attention of the candidates as a private citizen, but requested that the town monitor the issue as well.